Baltimore beats Chicago; Reds clip Cards

Sox still struggling

White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez throws to first for an out Thursday in Baltimore. The Orioles won 3-1. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

By The Associated Press

Miguel Gonzalez allowed one run over seven innings, and the Orioles hit three solo home runs to beat the Chicago White Sox 3-1 on Thursday in Baltimore.

Adam Jones, J.J. Hardy and Brian Roberts homered off Jose Quintana (7-6) to provide Baltimore with a much-needed win. The Orioles were coming off a 3-6 trip that dropped them four games off the pace in the AL wild-card race.

Jones’ shot in the first inning gave him 30 home runs for the season and 100 RBIs for the first time. Hardy and Roberts connected in the fifth, increasing Baltimore’s major league-leading home run total to 188.

Gonzalez (9-7) gave up four hits – all singles – walked one and struck out six to earn his first win in seven starts since July 20. Jim Johnson worked a perfect ninth for his 42nd save.

Dayan Viciedo had two hits for the White Sox, who have dropped seven straight. Chicago is an AL-worst 24-49 on the road and 32-48 in games decided by one or two runs.

Reds 6, Cardinals 2: Todd Frazier hit two homers, including the first of three off Lance Lynn, and Cincnnati took three of four in the teams’ final series of the season.

Jay Bruce and Shin-Soo Choo also hit solo homers off Lynn (13-10), who lasted five innings and gave up three homers for only the second time in his career.

Frazier also connected off Seth Maness for the third multihomer game of his career.

Left-hander Tony Cingrani (7-3) returned from a sore back and did a little bit of everything. He pitched into the sixth inning, gave up two runs, bunted for a hit, stole a base and scored.

David Freese homered for the Cardinals, who have lost six of eight. With first-place Pittsburgh idle, the Cardinals slipped to 1½ games behind the Pirates while the Reds moved to 3 games out.

The Cardinals got some encouraging news before the game. Cleanup hitter Allen Craig has a sprained left foot, but nothing is broken.

Allen twisted the foot while rounding first base on Wednesday night. Initially, the Cardinals feared it was broken – X-rays were inconclusive. He flew to St. Louis for an MRI and more X-rays that ruled out a fracture. He’s expected back at some point during the season.